Daybreak

Memorial of St. Philip Neri, 1515-1595; ordained a priest, and founded the Oratory; known as a wise confessor, with a sense of humor; sought by many prominent figures of his day; one of the influential figures of the counter-reformation Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/26/21 Gospel: Mark 10:32-45

Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Bede, the Venerable, 673-735; his writings are a veritable summary of the learning of his time; the father of English history, the first to date events “anno domini” (A.D.); the only English Doctor of the Church Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/25/21 Gospel: Mark 10:28-31

Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/24/21 Gospel: John 19:25-34

Solemnity of Pentecost Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/23/21 Gospel: John 20:19-23

Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Rita of Cascia, 1381-1457; became an Augustinian nun after being widowed and losing her two sons; known for her auterity, prayerfulness, and charity; known as a saint of impossible cases Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/22/21 Gospel: John 21:20-25

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Christopher Magallanes and companions; martyrs of the Cristero wars, a period in the early 20th Century when Mexico was ruled by an extremely anti-Catholic government; St. Christopher and the other 24 were martyred over a period of 22 years in eight Mexican states Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/21/21 Gospel: John 21:15-19

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Bernardine of Siena, 1380-1444; greatest preacher of his time; known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, invented the “IHS” symbol Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/20/21 Gospel: John 17:20-26

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Theophilus of Corte, 1676-1740; founded Franciscan houses following an austere life in Corsica and Tuscany; famous for his preaching and missionary efforts Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/19/21 Gospel: John 17:11-19

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. John I, 470-526; pope and martyr; inherited the problem of the Arian heresy; imprisoned on suspicion of being a spy; died in prison Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/18/21 Gospel: John 17:1-11

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Paschal Baylon, 1540-1592; Franciscan lay brother who spent most of his life as a humble doorkeeper; had a deep love for the Blessed Sacrament, and is the patron of all eucharistic confraternities and congresses Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/17/21 Gospel: John 16:29-33

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (in many locales) Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/16/21 Gospel: Mark 16:15-20

Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Isidore the Farmer, 1070-1130; spent most of his life as a laborer on a farm near Madrid, Spain; favored with celestial visions, and it was said that angels sometimes helped with his farm work; patron of farmers, and of Catholic Rural Life Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/15/21 Gospel: John 16:23-28

Feast of St. Matthias, apostle; chosen after the Ascension to replace Judas Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/14/21 Gospel: John 15:9-17

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (in some locales) Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/13/21 Gospel: Mark 16:15-20

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of Saints Nereus and Achilleus; First Century martyrs; soldiers in the Roman army who converted, escaped, and were ultimately captured and martyred Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/12/21 Gospel: John 16:12-15

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Ignatius of Laconi, 1701-1781; Capuchin friar, known for self-denial and charity; served as the official beggar for the friars in Cagliari for 40 years, though blind for the last two; instructed children, visited the sick and urged sinners to repent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/11/21 Gospel: John 16:5-11

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Damien de Veuster, aka Damien of Molokai, 1840-1889; ordained for the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary; assigned to the leper colony on the Hawaiian island of Molokai, and volunteered to remain permanently, caring for the people’s physical, medical, and spiritual needs; contracted leprosy–now known as Hansen...

Sixth Sunday of Easter Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/9/21 Gospel: John 15:9-17

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Rose Venerini, 1656-1728; opened a free school for girls in 1865; oversaw training of teachers and administration of schools in the Diocese of Montefiscone; she was eventually called upon to organize schools in many parts of Italy, including Rome Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/7/21 Gospel: John 15:12-17

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Petronax, 670-747; asked by Pope St. Gregory to examine the ruins of Monte Cassino, damaged by the Lombards; restored Monte Cassino and served as its abbot for three decades Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/6/21 Gospel: John 15:9-11

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Hilary of Arles, 401-449; became bishop of Arles at the age of 29; assisted the poor, ransomed captives, and became a great orator; a man of talent and piety Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/5/21 Gospel: John 15:1-8

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. John Payne, 1532-1582; born in England, ordained in Douai, France, in 1576; returned to England, and was arrested; after release, he departed, but returned, and was arrested again; imprisoned and tortured in the Tower of London, and then executed; one of the Martyrs of England and Wales canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970 Office of Readings a...

Feast of Saints Philip and James, two of the Twelve; Philip invited Nathaneal to meet Jesus; James is sometimes called “James the Less,” to distinguish him from the son of Zebedee Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/3/21 Gospel: John 14:6-14

Fifth Sunday of Easter Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/2/21 Gospel: John 15:1-8

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker; instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1955, to emphasize the relationship between St. Joseph and the dignity of human work Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/1/21 Gospel: John 14:7-14